This is a really good, thoughtful review and comparison. The simple playing of a single note and letting it ring comparison was brilliant and, to me, the most telling. The sustain on the V braced model is incredible! Thank you!

Played the 614ce version today. It had just arrived to my local Dietz Music store. I compared it to a 914ce, unplugged. The initial feel of the Builders Edition was sincerely remarkable. The volume and sustain were noticeable. I am accustomed to rosewood back and sides. So I was not expecting much warmth from the maple found on the 614. The guitar is very responsive to playing style (light finger picking vs 1.0mm flat pick). The guitar responded to the slightest changes in attack and right-hand focus. For more accurate comparison I disregarded the similar price of the 914 and played a non-Builders Edition 614ce. It is about half the price of the Builders Edition of the same model. These are simply two different guitars. The Builders Edition with the ‘V’ bracing had a sound that was much more luxurious than the lower priced (standard) version. I am NOT in sales. I just enjoy playing guitar as a hobby. There are many great sounding guitars. I am not in a position to pay almost $4k for yet another guitar. If I were - the 614ce Builders Edition would be in my hot hands right now. I believe this guitar would be perfect for a singer/songwriter, as it is highly responsive to ‘mood’ changes. It has ridiculous volume/projection and it really does sound warm and thick while chording. Single notes carry for much longer than I am accustomed. The build quality to my hands felt as good, if not slightly better than the 914ce. (Surprising) It is truly one of those guitars that instantly ‘feels’ natural and familiar. The one I played had the ‘aged’ spruce top. I cannot say with certainty, what individual attributes contributed to my experience. The sum of all the parts together work in a way I have not experienced since I first picked up a guitar 15 years ago. I write this message in hopes that those who appreciate acoustic guitar will make the time to play one. The experience will be deeply rewarding, even if you come home without buying.

Good demo. The guitars do sound different, but frankly the variation I'm hearing exists naturally within the Taylor range anyway, whatever bracing the guitars happen to have. So I personally I wouldn't pay specifically for V-class bracing - it isn't miles better and it's questionable whether it's better at all; that boils down to taste

Wow they both so great but that 2018 man the sound that came out of the guitar was mind blowing.

Both the 614ce sound amazing, can't wait to hear the 514ce's ,thank you for taking the time and effort for doing these videos. I have a Jewel, Taylor made in 2000 that sounds amazing and a 614ce made in 2001 and many other Taylor guitars that I have to say have always been made with good craftsmanship from the 1970's. So I have never been disappointed in any Taylor I have owned.

I had to turn the headphones volume down when you plucked the g string on the '18. The string individuation on the v-class is phenomenal.

I own a 618e, and I love it. It’s a huge strummer, but this 614 V class is so impressive. It takes maple guitars to a whole new territory

I bought brand new in 2015,614ce i loved it so much i bought a 2019 614 ce, Builders edition V- brace WHB Satin finish i love both there different but both are absolutely beautiful sounding guitars.

Thank you Chris, nice review. V-class sounds so nice. I think that one of the reasons that Maple and sitka spruce combo on other string instruments is popular, not indian rosewood and sitka spruce combo, is the dark color of indian rosewood. For the guitars, rosewood and Sitka spruce combo is one of the best.

As an owner of a 2015 614CE, I've been curious to see what the V-Bracing does to it. While I was pleased there was a difference, I'm glad I own what I have. That said, this V-braced version of the 614CE sounds like it would make my life sooooo much easier in the "studio". I did test drive a 814 IIRC, and had the same impression. I was very impressed with how it played and sounded down in the 10th-14th fret range, though.

I own a 2015 614 ce and I have played the v brace ,614ce and the 814ce I like the standard better

i own a 2015 614ce and a 2015 816ce I went and played new v brace 614ce 714ce 814ce they were really loud but I really like the standard bracing better I was really disappointed im still gonna get a v brace but out of the three I played I liked the 614ce best I'm taking my time and gonna play a lot more of them until I find what I like

The first strums put me in awe!

The most informative review I have seen on these guitars. Thank you!!!

Wow big difference! I just bought a 812ce 12 fret V-class and am very very happy. My main guitar is a 2001 614ce similar to those you played here (except its dyed purple!)

Love my 2013 614ce......new one is awesome.....as usual, it comes down to how YOU hear it and what YOU like...

I hear the difference and I like the newer one better. Thanks for the great demo.

Thanks for this excellent comparison!

Qué gusto verlo de nuevo

Wow! the 2018 is much Crisper on each note Quality of intonality Taylor really has set the bar on intonations such a superb Product ;-)

No significant changes in sound for 600 series with X- or V-braising. I have 616 ce and can say, that Maple is great without any specialities! I my humble opinion V-braising make sense for 714, 814 an 914 to bring more dynamic and brightness for rosewood. Have fun with Taylor guys!

That single note test... what a difference!!

I love the 600 series over all the others except the Koa series, and I’ve had the newly revamped 2016 614ce, and that guitar still to this day blows me away in it tone playable, and it’s just so gosh darn gorgeous! However, the tone changes on these guitars pretty fast, I think because of the torifide top, but both resonance and the warmth grew in my guitar over the last 3 years I’ve had it. I’ve sense played 4 or 5 other 614ce guitars, and non of them sounded as good as mine at home. But especially the v brace guitars. Yeah the sustainability is better, but it’s as if the bracing robed it of that beautiful warmth of the last model. I for one don’t like the new v bracing.

Wait for taylor to make their v brace more great! When time comes they will find ways how the v brace sounds better👍thanks for comparison

love 614 ce 2017

Excellent review!

to me i’ve been playing guitar for 33 years now & i own 2 taylor’s a 2013 214ce rosewood & a 2016 g.s mini,& i’ve payed & heard the new v class & i don’t buy the hype, they both sound awesome weather v brace or x brace i don’t think the v brace is an extra $3000 dollars better than my old 214 it comes down to how skilled you are as a player & what you can afford,their trying to say this is the second coming & all other guitars are crap & that you should trade your old taylor for their new v brace,i wish i had the money but i’ll put my old 214 up against any $3000 -$4000 taylor or martin,mine is already 5 years old so it’s starting to age properly and sounds better than when i first got it,don’t get me wrong i love taylor & i know chris in the video personally i like the new v brace but i don’t think it’s right to tact on another $2000 to $3000 on their guitars just because of this so called revolutionary new bracing

The 2018 614CE almost sounds like it is using a bone saddle or bridge pins. I put a bone saddle on my 2015 814CE because I disliked the shrillness of the micarta saddle. The bone saddle added a little more warmth / mid focus, more volume, and more sustain. It made chords sound a lot better, and I still like the single notes too. I love the V-class sound by itself. But the brighter sound on the standard bracing would excel for playing lead parts in a band setting. Buy both!

My sound system does not do this justice but the acceptable headphones I used didn't significantly alter what I heard. The 2017 seems to have a warmer sound and a livelier soundboard. The 2018 seems to have all the benefits associated with V class bracing and the newly voiced back and sides. It also has a "cooler" sound (the swell and sustain on the single note comparison was impressive). I"m especially partial to Spruce/Maple combinations and am grateful that builders are advancing acoustic guitar voicing with these instruments. I noticed "warbling" on both instruments. Might the use of a "traditional" posture alter this? By traditional, I am referring to the posture and footstand used by nylon string players performing in a concert setting. I tried a V class 914 and managed to get it warble until I realized that the way I was holding the instrument caused it to flex and move out of tune. The most consistent remedy for me seems to be a more formal/traditional playing posture. I would advocate for this more except that I typically play very slouched with the instrument facing upward - which also helps me avoid a modest portion of the pressures that produce the unintended flexing (just not as much as a proper posture). Nicely done comparison. I look forward to more of these as they come. Hopefully, future installments can compare other models (618e?) to the newer V class models that will succeed them.

In my ear 2017 ver is sound more crisp and clear, 2018 ver is relatively sound softer and muted feel

The theory is that a torrefied soundboard comes close to replicating the cellular structure of the top of an old guitar. Along with sounding more like a vintage guitar, torrefied wood is also more resistant to swelling or shrinking when exposed to climate changes. Torrefaction; it is a method of heat treating to artificially age the top to make the guitar sound (tonally) like it was made in say 1937 for example...

Do you have this same comparison with a 2017 514ce vs the new v-class 514ce? I'm so curious about how the new bracing compares on a cedar top 514ce!

Waiting for the 514 review patiently

On ZZsounds they are letting people preorder the 314ce V class.... Demo that as soon you get it .... please!

Can I ask what song you are playing at the beginning of the comparison or is it something you made up?

8:30 - 2017 10:13 2018 V-class

what's the song at 14:25 ?

I like the 2018 more

Mh.. I´m quit disappointed. For my ears the 2018 sounds dead compared to the 2017, which really shimmers and sounds lively... Sure Sustain is better, but who needs this long sustain? Alright, I will test it by myself, but will probably look for used pre2018 models.

El trasteo está mal no se puede pisar las notas y muy poca resonancia 😁

Very disappointed review the guitar should speak for it self and too much lip action I own five Taylor Guitars shut up and play!